VIVA IL PAPA

Francis Holds Inauguration Mass

Kisses disabled man after getting out of popemobile.

It’s official: we have a pope! Pope Francis held his inaugural Mass on Tuesday with up to 1 million pilgrims—including Joe Biden and Robert Mugabe—in the Vatican. Francis, the first Jesuit pope, received spontaneous applause as he was giving a homily about how “hatred, envy, and pride defile our lives”—and ended by asking people to pray for him. Francis received his papal palladium made of lamb’s wool and the “fisherman’s ring” bearing the image of St. Peter—officially making him the 266th pope. Francis then received the obedience of the cardinals and the Mass officially began. He proved his dedication to the masses was no joke as he exited the popemobile and kissed a disabled man as part of his trip around through the crowd.